REVIEWS:

After scoring two club hits with ''Nightvision'' and ''It's Empty In Her Eyes'' ( new versions of both songs are available on 'Balance'! ) and several notable compilation appearances, multi-talented artist Shaun Frandsen returns with new songs that reveal the many more dimensions of GLIS. To intensify the impact of this release, Karloz.M of the Noise / EBM project Manufactura was brought on board, and together they conjured a complex and highly refined sound for this greatly anticipated follow-up album. By fusing influences from the genres of IDM and Noise, GLIS now newly sharpened edge reaches into dark corridors beyond its previously established ''pop'' sound of ''Extract''. On this second and very personal album, GLIS artfully demonstrates an astounding song-writing maturity and an exceptional intelligent sense for weaving club song melodies comparable to the likes of COVENANT and ASSEMBLAGE 23. Dominating vocals and elusive yet enticing female voices intertwine with commanding hi-energy electronic arrangements to create an experience that is so thoroughly haunted by the timeless themes of love and hate conflicts. Listeners will explore the complexities of GLIS ranging from the low-tempo moody electronic songs, "Sunrise'' and ''Descending'' to the much harsher and more experimental moments sonically expressed in ''Hate You'' and ''Hypertension''. Armed with "Balance", GLIS now stands ready to deliver a barrage of new club hits; ''Resolution'', ''Letting Go'' and the harsher ''Discontent'' are all bound to become EBM classics. After ASSEMBLAGE 23, (additional vocal production on "Balance"), GLIS will be known as the second American band to join the future pop elite league next to distinguished European acts in the likes of VNV NATION, APOPTYGMA BERZERK and COVENANT. 'Balance' delivers a lush pallet of diversity throughout the entire track list making this latest creation an overall superb achievement for GLIS in the form of a skillfully cultivated collection of contemporary Electronic Body Music. Ultimately, listeners will find 'Balance' to be a forceful yet expressive album crowned by a wide range of special guests including Assemblage 23 (additional vocal production & remix), Jennifer Parkin (Epsilon Minus), Dominique (Neikka RPM) as well as featured remixers DJ Delobbo, Implant and Z Prochek.MusicNonStop

This was the third album from Glis, released in 2003 in North America by ADSR Musicwerks, under license from Alfa Matrix. This album was primarily composed mainly by sole bandmember Shawn Frandson, with help from Jennifer Parkin (Ayria) and several other artists. Tom Shear of Assemblage 23 contributes production assistance three tracks and also remixes another track here. Hard-hitting Futurepop is the order of the day here, with some trance influences showing up here and there. The vocal style is a straight-forward, almost Industrial approach, with near-growling speak-singing at times.
The one thing you have to admit this album is, is intense. From "Resolution", where the BPM's make you want to floor the accelerator, onward, this album keeps the Beats hitting hard and fast. "Resolution" was the track that convinced me to buy the album, but there are several more like it here, with catchy refrains or choruses and intense music. "Discontent" and "Hate You" were immediate favorites, and "Letting Go" seems like a lost Ayria track. I guess that's appropriate though, because Shawn worked extensively with Jennifer P. for the Ayria debut album.
Very few of these tracks seemed to not work smoothly to me, but "Descending" seemed to lack any semblance of a hook. The track just seemed to ramble out without developing anything that would make me want to listen to it again. Even the instrumental "Summer Lights" was enjoyably memorable, in a peaceful way. The remixes were fairly enjoyable, none of them particularly outstanding, but still enjoyable. Except for Delobbo's mix, that is. 10 minutes of "Resolution", rendered through a Epic Trance lens, varied and interesting throughout, this is great music.
Overall, this style of music, the slightly more Industrial influenced Futurepop, I think has a broad appeal to it. I find myself going back to several of these tracks over and over again, and I think you will too. Strongly recommended!Synthpop.Net